Abstract: We present a simplified version of a repeater protocol in a cold neutral-atom
ensemble with Rydberg excitations optimized for two-node entanglement
generation and describe a protocol for quantum teleportation. Our proposal
draws from previous proposals [Zhao, {\sl et al.}, Phys. Rev. A {\bf 81},
052329 (2010)] and [Han, {\sl et al.} Phys. Rev. A {\bf 81}, 052311 (2010)] who
described efficient and robust protocols for long-distance entanglement with
many nodes. Using realistic experimental values we predict an entanglement
generation rate of $\sim$25 Hz and teleportation rate of $\sim$ 5 Hz. Our
predicted rates match the current state of the art experiments for entanglement
generation and teleportation between quantum memories. With improved
efficiencies we predict entanglement generation and teleportation rates of
$\sim$7.8 kHz and $\sim$3.6 kHz respectively, representing a two order of
magnitude improvement over the currently realized values. Cold-atom ensembles
with Rydberg excitations are promising candidates for repeater nodes because
collective effects in the ensemble can be used to deterministically generate a
long-lived ground state memory which may be efficiently mapped onto a
directionally emitted single photon.